diff --git a/release/README.md b/release/README.md
index 9d3ad7cd2b..cb87738422 100644
--- a/release/README.md
+++ b/release/README.md
@@ -26,3 +26,13 @@ release/create_casync_prebuilt.sh
 ## release channel
 
 to create a release channel, set `RELEASE=1` environment variable when running build script
+
+
+## openpilot channels
+
+| channel      | type        | description                                              |
+| -----------  | ----------- | ----------                                               |
+| release3     | release     | channel for end users                                    |
+| staging      | release     | staging channel for release3                             |
+| nightly      | release     | generated nightly from last commit passing CI tests      |
+| master       | prebuilt    | current master commit with experimental features enabled |